DANGERS OF TNT Although TNT has many advantages to the technology and chemistry of our society, there are also many harmful affects towards humans and our environment. When places are detonated such as a piece of land, chemical factory, or even a house, the chemicals released into the air do not disappear. We can consume these chemicals by drinking contaminated water or by merely breathing the air around us. If it is absorbed by the water, the fish and underwater plants will consume this too. After a prolonged period of time around this harmful chemical our body will begin to show signs such as major skin irritation. People were known to have their skin turn a yellowish color and were called "canary girls." Some other, and in fact, more serious signs that TNT has filtrated throughout your body are anemia, an enlarged spleen, abnormal liver functions, and also an unhealthy immune system, so that your body cannot fight off other diseases. Environmental companies and agencies have been working to stop this contamination from TNT. They have put laws against how it is handled, so that future problems will be eliminated.
PERCENT COMPOSITION BY MASS
Carbon: 84.077 g/mol = 37%
Hydrogen: 5.0395 g/mol = 2.2%
Nitrogen: 42.0201 g/mol = 18.5%
Oxygen: 95.9964 g/mol = 42.3%
PERCENT COMPOSITION BY NUMBER
Carbon (7 atoms) = 33.3%
Hydrogen (5 atoms) = 23.8%
Nitrogen (3 atoms) = 14.3%
Oxygen (6 atoms) = 28.6%
TYPE OF BONDING AND REACTIONS
The compound of TNT holds covalent bonding with in its atoms. This type of bonding is caused from the shared pairs of electrons in TNT's non-metal compound. The 4 atoms in TNT are nonmetals which makes this possible.
TNT has a large amount of gas and energy after it has been reacted which is why TNT is known as an explosive. The 3 nitro groups on the toluene cause the production of gas and also, nitrogen. Its reaction has an effect of an explosion and the products usually consist of carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and hydrogen. Energy is the main product of a TNT reaction because of the buildup of gases in the compound after it has been detonated.
The following is an equation which displays how TNT creates and produces its products: Chemical Equation
HISTORY
Explosions have actually been around since China invented gunpowder in A.D. 850. This gunpowder was used for fireworks, but as technology advanced, explosions began to be more powerful and destructive as more chemists discovered how to synthesize or nitrate more complex chemical compounds.
Alfred Nobel, a Swedish chemist, began the study of nitroglycerin before 1867. This chemical, quite the opposite of TNT, is very explosive and not insensitive to anything. The next compound that he discovered was dynamite which he created by sustained nitroglycerin so that it would not explode at the drop of a pin.
Joseph Wilbrand, a German chemist, was the first person to utilize TNT. In 1863, he used this compound as yellow dye, but as time passed, TNT was found to have an even better use: explosives. The isomer of trinitrotoluene was discovered in 1870 and named the 2,4,5 trinitrotoluene isomer. When picric acid was discovered in 1742 by Johann Rudolf Glauber, it was not foreseen to lend a hand in the development of TNT, but it is actually a very explosive acid. Picric acid was actually used before TNT started to be manufactured but, in 1891, the Germans began using TNT to fill the shells of a bomb. TNT eventually took the place of this explosive acid. This tactic proved effective and has now taken the place of other explosives such as cyclonite and nitroglycerin as the new form of detonation. As explosions became more powerful, TNT was mixed with compounds such as ammonium nitrate to produce magnanimous explosions. Nuclear explosions are the latest in technology and were discovered around 1939-45 (World War II).
CHEMICAL/PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS --HOW IT IS MADE AND OBTAINED--
TNT has a pale yellow color and is well-known for its use as an explosive detonator. Its physical appearance looks like yellow needles and is a very stable chemical compound. The TNT molecule has 3 nitro groups (3 groups are attached to the toluene) , and a toluene which has 7 carbon atoms and 5 hydrogen atoms. It is not dynamite or nitroglycerin, so TNT does require a detonator to start off the explosion. This compound is used with charge transfer salts where electrons are accepted and donated. It cannot absorb or dissolve in water and is also insensitive to friction and shock. Trinitrotoluene is used to fill shells (for the military) because it cannot react with metals. Whenever used in an explosion, TNT is known to have an excess of brown, oily liquid which may be flammable. This compound is able to sustain long periods of time which concludes the idea of it being used as a major form of an explosive device.
The following is the natural substance of TNT in a powder form may look like:
A three step process is required to make TNT. Toluene, a substance used as a solvent and also known as methylbenzene, is mixed with a combination of nitric and sulfuric acids to create a chemical known as MNT. This process is nitration; a nitro group is joined together with the rest of the compound. MNT is actually a salt and then another process of nitration is utilized to create DNT (dinitrotoluene). The final process also requires another nitration and makes the product of TNT. The reaction of these reactants does not stop and the acids can be reused for the next reaction. The actual production of this compound does not occur just anywhere, but usually somewhere around military bases or compounds. As aforementionally stated, TNT is a synthesized chemical and cannot be found naturally. There are chemicals/acids involved as the process suggests.
The following is a formula compound picture of the final product of TNT:
USES/IMPORTANCE
TNT is a highly important chemical when it comes to use in the military. During World War I, the Germans were experimenting with its high power ability to detonate with a bomb. It was used for battlefield artillery as well. Although dynamite and nitroglycerin were using before the creation of TNT, this new compound was used to fill explosive shells and bombs. It is still used today as a means of filling mortar shells and for land mines.
TNT is most commonly used for industrial and commercial usages. Trinitrotoluene is used for the demolition of many things such as buildings, military compounds, clearing land, etc. It's used with underwater oil mining and also coal/mineral mining. The TNT is used to clear things in the mine and because it is resistant to water, it has a practical use with underwater oil mining so the job will get done quicker. Trinitrotoluene is also used for biodegradation of fungi, so that the environment will accept this waste in a healthy way.
The majority of the ways TNT is used is for demolition and exploding, but a fun and enjoyable way TNT is used is with fireworks. Fireworks need a spark and a detonator is used to set these colorful explosions off in the sky. TNT is combined with chemicals such as oxygen, magnesium, sodium nitrate, calcium/lithium salts, etc. to create the "big booms of color" that set off in the sky every 4th of July.
Want to find out more about TNT? Visit these websites:
Table of Contents
TNT
CREATED BY KARISSA AND JOSEPH
BASIC FACTS
Compound Name
TrinitrotolueneMolecular Formula
C7H5N3O6 or also known as C6H2(NO2)3CH3
Molar Mass
227.131 g/mol
Boiling Point
295°C
Melting Point
80.35°C
Density
1.654 g/cm3
The following file is a 3-D iMol model of TNT (Trinitrotoluene):
DANGERS OF TNT
Although TNT has many advantages to the technology and chemistry of our society, there are also many harmful affects towards humans and our environment. When places are detonated such as a piece of land, chemical factory, or even a house, the chemicals released into the air do not disappear. We can consume these chemicals by drinking contaminated water or by merely breathing the air around us. If it is absorbed by the water, the fish and underwater plants will consume this too. After a prolonged period of time around this harmful chemical our body will begin to show signs such as major skin irritation. People were known to have their skin turn a yellowish color and were called "canary girls." Some other, and in fact, more serious signs that TNT has filtrated throughout your body are anemia, an enlarged spleen, abnormal liver functions, and also an unhealthy immune system, so that your body cannot fight off other diseases. Environmental companies and agencies have been working to stop this contamination from TNT. They have put laws against how it is handled, so that future problems will be eliminated.
PERCENT COMPOSITION BY MASS
PERCENT COMPOSITION BY NUMBER
TYPE OF BONDING AND REACTIONS
The compound of TNT holds covalent bonding with in its atoms. This type of bonding is caused from the shared pairs of electrons in TNT's non-metal compound. The 4 atoms in TNT are nonmetals which makes this possible.
TNT has a large amount of gas and energy after it has been reacted which is why TNT is known as an explosive. The 3 nitro groups on the toluene cause the production of gas and also, nitrogen. Its reaction has an effect of an explosion and the products usually consist of carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and hydrogen. Energy is the main product of a TNT reaction because of the buildup of gases in the compound after it has been detonated.
The following is an equation which displays how TNT creates and produces its products:
Chemical Equation
HISTORY
Explosions have actually been around since China invented gunpowder in A.D. 850. This gunpowder was used for fireworks, but as technology advanced, explosions began to be more powerful and destructive as more chemists discovered how to synthesize or nitrate more complex chemical compounds.
Alfred Nobel, a Swedish chemist, began the study of nitroglycerin before 1867. This chemical, quite the opposite of TNT, is very explosive and not insensitive to anything. The next compound that he discovered was dynamite which he created by sustained nitroglycerin so that it would not explode at the drop of a pin.
Joseph Wilbrand, a German chemist, was the first person to utilize TNT. In 1863, he used this compound as yellow dye, but as time passed, TNT was found to have an even better use: explosives. The isomer of trinitrotoluene was discovered in 1870 and named the 2,4,5 trinitrotoluene isomer. When picric acid was discovered in 1742 by Johann Rudolf Glauber, it was not foreseen to lend a hand in the development of TNT, but it is actually a very explosive acid. Picric acid was actually used before TNT started to be manufactured but, in 1891, the Germans began using TNT to fill the shells of a bomb. TNT eventually took the place of this explosive acid. This tactic proved effective and has now taken the place of other explosives such as cyclonite and nitroglycerin as the new form of detonation. As explosions became more powerful, TNT was mixed with compounds such as ammonium nitrate to produce magnanimous explosions. Nuclear explosions are the latest in technology and were discovered around 1939-45 (World War II).
CHEMICAL/PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
--HOW IT IS MADE AND OBTAINED--
TNT has a pale yellow color and is well-known for its use as an explosive detonator. Its physical appearance looks like yellow needles and is a very stable chemical compound. The TNT molecule has 3 nitro groups (3 groups are attached to the toluene) , and a toluene which has 7 carbon atoms and 5 hydrogen atoms. It is not dynamite or nitroglycerin, so TNT does require a detonator to start off the explosion. This compound is used with charge transfer salts where electrons are accepted and donated. It cannot absorb or dissolve in water and is also insensitive to friction and shock. Trinitrotoluene is used to fill shells (for the military) because it cannot react with metals. Whenever used in an explosion, TNT is known to have an excess of brown, oily liquid which may be flammable. This compound is able to sustain long periods of time which concludes the idea of it being used as a major form of an explosive device.
The following is the natural substance of TNT in a powder form may look like:
A three step process is required to make TNT. Toluene, a substance used as a solvent and also known as methylbenzene, is mixed with a combination of nitric and sulfuric acids to create a chemical known as MNT. This process is nitration; a nitro group is joined together with the rest of the compound. MNT is actually a salt and then another process of nitration is utilized to create DNT (dinitrotoluene). The final process also requires another nitration and makes the product of TNT. The reaction of these reactants does not stop and the acids can be reused for the next reaction. The actual production of this compound does not occur just anywhere, but usually somewhere around military bases or compounds. As aforementionally stated, TNT is a synthesized chemical and cannot be found naturally. There are chemicals/acids involved as the process suggests.
The following is a formula compound picture of the final product of TNT:
USES/IMPORTANCE
TNT is a highly important chemical when it comes to use in the military. During World War I, the Germans were experimenting with its high power ability to detonate with a bomb. It was used for battlefield artillery as well. Although dynamite and nitroglycerin were using before the creation of TNT, this new compound was used to fill explosive shells and bombs. It is still used today as a means of filling mortar shells and for land mines.
TNT is most commonly used for industrial and commercial usages. Trinitrotoluene is used for the demolition of many things such as buildings, military compounds, clearing land, etc. It's used with underwater oil mining and also coal/mineral mining. The TNT is used to clear things in the mine and because it is resistant to water, it has a practical use with underwater oil mining so the job will get done quicker. Trinitrotoluene is also used for biodegradation of fungi, so that the environment will accept this waste in a healthy way.
The majority of the ways TNT is used is for demolition and exploding, but a fun and enjoyable way TNT is used is with fireworks. Fireworks need a spark and a detonator is used to set these colorful explosions off in the sky. TNT is combined with chemicals such as oxygen, magnesium, sodium nitrate, calcium/lithium salts, etc. to create the "big booms of color" that set off in the sky every 4th of July.
Want to find out more about TNT? Visit these websites:
Sources
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trinitrotoluenehttp://mooni.fccj.org/~ethall/explode/explode.htm
http://web1.caryacademy.org/chemistry/rushin/StudentProjects/CompoundWebSites/2000/TNT/structure.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/charge_transfer_complex
http://dopamine.chem.umn.edu/chempedia/index.php/TNT
http://web1.caryacademy.org/chemistry/rushin/StudentProjects/CompoundWebSites/2000/TNT/history.htm
http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-trinitro.html
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9405746
http://www.experiencefestival.com/trinitrotoluene_-_history
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toluene
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/picricacid
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Covalent_bond
Pictures
http://www.chem.shef.ac.uk/chm131-2001/chbolajb.tnt.gif
http://www.3dchem.com/molecules.asp?ID=226
http://elchem.kaist.ac.kr/jhkwak/okanaganpdb97/molecule/ar.htm
http://jooyeol.files.wordpress.com/2006/05/explosion.jpg
http://www.starfleetyachts.com/images2006/fireworks.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trinitrotoluene
http://blog.chembark.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/04/yellowsolid_350.jpg